Page 78 of Defy the Highlander

“From my husband!”

“Then he is the one who bought my contract. Not ye. ’Tis Laird Currie who will have the final say in where I sleep. Let us ask him.”

Lady Currie was so angry by this time that she was grinding her teeth. “You serve the Laird and Lady of Hawkhill,” she said through clenched teeth. “I am the lady of Hawkhill and I demand you serve me.”

“I shall serve ye loyally, m’lady. But only as a warrior and nothing more.”

“Ye’ll do as I say!”

“Or what?”

Her mouth popped open in outrage. “I’ll have you whipped!”

“By whom?”

“I have fifty soldiers that will do my bidding!”

“There are fifty soldiers tae do yer husband’s bidding and mine. Ye’re not in the chain of command, Lady Currie.”

Lady Currie was positively enraged. She growled angrily, balling her fists. “We shall see what my husband has to say about this!”

Brody nodded readily. “I agree,” he said. “Let’s see what yer husband has tae say about ye commanding a warrior tae do anything more than his duties as a warrior. I’m not a whore, m’lady. If ye paid for my contract with that on yer mind, then ye wasted yer money.”

Lady Currie wasn’t finished. She was wearing the pale blue satin with the ermine robe over it against the cold and she immediately tossed off the ermine, exposing a dress that was far better suited for warm temperatures. Dramatically, she grabbed her full breasts.

“You will never see anything better than what I have to offer, Brody,” she said, fondling herself in the hopes of arousing him. “My skin is soft and sweet, far better than anything you have ever tasted. All you need to do is take what you wish. I will not resist.”

Brody sighed heavily, clearly unimpressed. He walked up to her, gazing down at her impassively as she clutched herself. She had such hope, such expectation on her face, that when he reached out and grasped her by the arms she believed that she’d finally broken through to him. For just a split second, her joy was obvious.

But it was not to be.

Brody grasped her by the arms, lifted her up, and moved her away from the door. As Lady Currie stood there with her hands still on her breasts, Brody opened the door and quit the chamber. He could hear Lady Currie screaming in anger as he walked down the corridor towards the stairs.

But the noise had brought out the servants, wondering why Lady Currie was yelling. Brody could see heads popping out from open doorways, including Lilia. He saw her just beyond the stairwell, looking at him with shock and fear on her face. He was so glad to see her that it was all he could do not to run to her.

Instead, he pointed in the direction of the stable yard.

“The stables,” he mouthed to her. “Meet me in the stables.”

Lilia had a terrified look about her but she nodded, once, and disappeared back into the chamber she had come from. With Lady Currie still shrieking in anger, Brody made his way back down the stairs and into the bailey beyond.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Later that night, with Tynan on the lookout for Lady Currie, Lilia slipped out of the manse and ran into the stable yard. Moving swiftly, she ran straight for the stables, rushing inside only to find Brody and Angus talking quietly in one of the stalls. When Brody looked up and saw her, he came out to greet her.

“My angel,” he murmured, sweeping her into his powerful embrace. “God, it’s good tae finally see ye alone.”

Lilia’s arms were around his neck. “It is,” she agreed. “We’ve not had a moment alone since The Cal. Brody, why did ye agree tae come here? I canna believe ye would agree tae come with Lady Currie when ye know…”

He cut her off gently, kissing her to silence her. “I have a plan,” he said quietly. “Ye dunna think I’d come here blindly, do ye?”

She eyed him curiously. “A plan? What plan?”

Brody knew she wasn’t privy to his reasons for coming, the plans he’d made with Cam and Isadora and Titus and Clegg. She didn’t know any of it, so surely, she thought he must have lost his mind. Quickly, he pulled her into the stall as Angus, grass in his teeth as usual, wandered out.

“Where is Angus going?” she asked. “He’s not going tae tell anyone we’re here, is he?”

Brody pulled her down onto the hay. “He’s going tae watch for any sign of Lady Currie or anyone else,” he said. “I told him tae pretend he doesna know me. Did ye tell Tynan not tae know me?”